Always and Everywhere

"Always and Everywhere" is a song by the English composer Edward Elgar with words translated from the Polish of Zygmunt Krasiński's poem "Zawsze i wszędzie" by Frank H. Fortey.^[1] It was composed and published in 1901.

The repeated ”Always and Everywhere” would have reminded the composer that the initials were those of his wife (Alice) and himself.^[2]

O say not, when my earthly days are o'er,
That I have only caused thee sorrows sore;
For I have wrecked my own life, even more,
  Always and Everywhere.

O say not, when on earth I no more dwell,
That I have numbed thy young heart’s joyous swell;
I, too, have quaffed the Poison-Cup of Hell,
  Always and Everywhere.

But say, when soft the grasses o'er me wave,
That God is kind to hide me in the grave;
For both my life and thine I did enslave,
  Always and Everywhere.

But say, O say! when my last hours depart,
That my poor life was one long frenzied smart;
For I have loved thee, though with bitter heart,
  Always and Everywhere.^[3]

• "The Unknown Elgar" includes "Always and Everywhere" performed by Teresa Cahill (soprano), with Barry Collett (piano).
• Elgar: Complete Songs for Voice & Piano Amanda Roocroft (soprano), Reinild Mees (piano)

• Kennedy, Michael, Portrait of Elgar (Oxford University Press, 1968) ISBN 0-19-315414-5
• Moore, Jerrold N. “Edward Elgar: a creative life” (Oxford University Press, 1984) ISBN 0-19-315447-1

• Always and Everywhere: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project